Indoor Growing Garden - update

It's a while since I reported on how things have progressed using our Indoor Growing Garden.

We are still impressed by the set up and it seems to be living up to expectations. We went with the majority and didn't thin out the lettuce seedlings which seems to have been an OK decision as the lettuce don't appear to be suffering and are growing really well.

They are now at the stage where we could nip off a few leaves to add to salads if we wanted to - they have had no extra treatment other than to add water to the reservoir. No sign of any legginess.

The basil is also growing well albeit much slower to develop. Both basil and lettuce have been left under the lights.

The coriander has been potted on into pots and popped in the cold greenhouse - a risk we know but this is after all more of an experiment - more coriander will be sown at an appropriate time. The seedlings had developed a really good root system maybe helped by the fairly constant supply of water - no wet then dry periods to deal with. Topping up the reservoir about once a week seems to do the trick and is the only real effort involved on our part .

The spring cabbages had seemed to stop growing but not really the fault of the set up - we think the compost had just run out of nutrients and that the small plants needed repotting so this has been done. Like the coriander the cabbages had a really good root system.

These have also been left in the cold greenhouse - the colder temperatures shouldn't harm them and if very low temperatures are predicted we will throw a piece of fleece over them. The spell in the cold greenhouse will be the first stage in the hardening off process,

More cabbage seeds have been sown and popped under the lights where they will shortly be joined by seeds such as tomatoes and peppers.

I'm writing a full report on our experiences with this system on my website here so if you have missed out on any early reports and wonder what on earth I am talking about follow the link and all will be made clearer.

To digress:
The perennials that are potted up in the greenhouse are growing really well - I am really pleased with them - the pulmonaria has even produced some flowers which are a really lovely blue. Once the rest of my plants arrive I'll be planting out the front bed.

I've added to my perennial order and have ordered a collection of five dark leaved single dahlias from Unwins which were featured in a catalogue they sent me - they looked so good I couldn't resist. As I am waiting for a Penstemon collection from them and rang and added them to my order so I can save a little on postage.